November 30, 2005

I returned to kickboxing last night for the first time since my calf injury. Seeing as how I missed almost all of November and the last week of October, I was pretty wiped out. It felt like I'd never done it before! But it also felt good to sweat and I hope I can return to a higher level of fitness.

In my month of vactions/eating/less workouts, I gained 5 pounds, but considering the eating (and drinking) I did, I was amazed it was that little. And I lost 2 pounds this week, so I'm back on the right track. It makes me sick that last January I was 2 pounds from my Weight Watchers goal and now I'm back to having a bit over 20 pounds to lose. It's been a rough and emotional year for me, though. :(

Knitting and quilting are both progressing. I'm trying to finish stitching the binding on my mom's quilt so I can send it to her for Christmas. She knows about the quilt (she picked it), but I'm sure she won't be expecting to receive it at Christmas. I am also sending my dad & stepmom a quilt for Christmas and they will be surprised, I'm sure.

I am nearly finished with my Moonlight something-or-other scarf from Scarf Style. I am down to 2 very small parts of the last 2 skeins of yarn. I may only use one, though, depending on how many ends I want to weave in.

I got a cool new digital camera on Black Friday, but I haven't figured out how to transfer my pictures to upload them. It requires many more brain cells than I have available at the moment! But hopefully I'll be able to share pictures soon.

November 23, 2005

I'm making slow progress on my second Cashsoft scarf made with yarn left over from my friend's scarf. At least the pattern is much easier than the first scarf. This scarf will be for moi, since I don't have one I like yet.

Yesterday I received the Handknit Holidays book - what a beautiful book with lots of great patterns! Yarn is on the way to make those cabled socks with Rowan Cork for myself. Yum - can't wait.

I also received 2 skeins of Vesper Sock Yarn from kpixie. I'd been drooling over it for months and finally decided to go for it. I love the Neopolitan color, especially, though the Knit and Tonic is very fun too. It's all I can do to not cast on for a pair of socks. Must. Finish. Scarf....

November 17, 2005

Between my rib injury, going to Atlanta and going to my quilt retreat, I have missed a lot of classes in the last month or so. So I went Tuesday night. Very soon after the warm up, we were doing kicks and I stepped backwards, landed hard on my left foot and felt my calf muscle go "pop" - OMG I was in agony! We immediately elevated and iced it for about 30 minutes. Then I hobbled home and iced it some more and popped some ibuprofen.

Wednesday morning it was very painful, so I stayed home from work. But after icing and more ibuprofen, the pain has subsided somewhat, although the calf is tender and stairs are difficult.

My instructors said "We're sorry we keep hurting you." I think I need to take a little break from all the jumping put and down, but I hope to get back kickin' very soon. I miss it!

November 15, 2005

I had a wonderful time at my quilt retreat. A few problematic people in our workroom, but that happens virtually every time. We were able to make the best of it, as always. I also had great success with my sales items, and came home with $360, which is the most ever, and I think I brought the least amount of stuff this time! I did bring several kits, though, and that really adds up. I had people asking me if I had more that I hadn't put out yet, so they obviously like what I bring! Now, if I only stop buying stuff I feel so-so about, I wouldn't have so much to sell.

Anyway, I don't feel like I accomplished as much as the last retreat, but I was able to finish my daughter's massive Hello Kitty quilt. It took me 2 full days to finish, so there was not time for much else. She loves it though, and with the money from selling, I will have it quilted soon. I need to find a new quilter, though, and that's not easy to put your trust into someone like that. My last quilter really screwed up the last 2 quilts I gave her, and although my SIL still uses and likes her, I have lost all trust in her.

So here is Hello Kitty. It turned out 75" x 65". I don't think I will be making another PINK quilt any time soon!

This is the other quilt I worked on. Three blocks completed out of 15 or 16 (can't remember how many I cut). These colors will look awesome in my living room. It's a complicated block, but I really love how it is turning out.

And finally, I finished and gifted the Interlocking Balloons scarf. The friend I gave it to LOVED it! And the good news is that I have enough yarn left over to make myself a scarf. Love that Rowan Cashsoft!

November 9, 2005

I just remembered something funny from my Atlanta trip. I was at the airport knitting on my Samus cable. I realized I screwed something up royally and the only way to fix was to rip completely and restart. I draped my bamboo circulars around my neck while I was frogging the yarn.

By that time Starbucks was open, and oh, a bagel sounds good, so I make a couple of stops to get provisions. Visit the ladies' room numerous time (nervous bladder, I tell ya!) and finally, board the plane, all the while wearing my fashionable Clover bamboo needle necklace. Sheesh! Wonder if anyone noticed?

For quilt retreat!! I'm so psyched! Can't wait for girly time with my SIL, good food, mucho inspiration, a massage and all else that quilt retreat entails.

My first project will be to finish my DD's Hello Kitty quilt. I finally figured out how I wanted to frame the blocks of fabric, and put together a test block, but it got awfully stretched out. I'm sure it will bug me too much, so I will have to rip off one border and resew it. Ugh. Hopefully I can finish one quilt top and start on my next one while I'm there.

On the knitting front, Samus is still giving me fits. I'm on my 3rd try starting the bottom cable edge of the sweater. I don't know why I keep messing up. If I have to restart, I think I will pick another project to give myself a break from cables for a while.

November 7, 2005

I finished the Interlocking Balloons scarf that I made with Rowan Cashsoft Aran. I ended up knitting only 8 of the 10 pattern repeats because the scarf was getting plenty long (62"). I am disappointed by how fuzzy and pilled looking the yarn got just from the knitting. I hope it wears okay.

I plopped the scarf into the bathroom sink in some Euculan practically the second I bound off. The yarn bled horribly! I tried to squeeze most of the water out by hand, but it was still pretty soaked. So I ran it through a gentle wash cycle and it came out looking really great and the washer spun most of the water out. It's blocking on my dining room table right now. No pictures yet as my camera is at work.

I'm preoccupied with getting my sale items priced and my projects ready for quilt retreat - I leave Thursday. For my next knitting project, I will return my focus to Samus. But I'm a little burned out on cables right now.

November 3, 2005

I had a glorious time in Atlanta. My stepsister's wedding was very lavish and beautiful. My dad and stepmom have 2 lovely homes in Georgia and they are great hosts. I felt like a spoiled princess the entire time I was there.

Dad introduced us to chocolate martinis and boy are they sinfully delicious! YUM!!!

I did luck into one yarn shop and bought a kit for an entrelac felted purse. Had to have a knitting souvenir, you know!

Didn't get much chance to knit any more on Samus, and what I did knit I had to rip out and start over. :(

My suitcase got opened and inspected on the trip home. When I retrieved it in baggage claim, it had a several yards long piece of my yarn trailing out of it, it was wet and split and dirty. Gee thanks, guys. At least it wasn't attached to anything important.

Back to working on my Interlocking Balloons scarf. I had hoped to have it finished by Saturday, but there is not a chance now. The birthday present will have to be a belated one. ;-)